Scottish Gig Highlights – April 2014

In a month that offers cutting-edge gigs from the likes of Cockney legends Chas 'n' Dave, dad-rock originators Status Quo, and multi-headed mutant tweeny-pop abomination McBusted, how are you supposed to navigate your way through the nightlife of Edinburgh and Glasgow without coming a cropper? Fear not! The Skinny are here, as always, to help you sort the arty parties from the crap concerts, and the big gigs from the limp shindigs. 

On 3 April at the Corn Exchange, the Manic Street Preachers come to Edinburgh (and Glasgow on 4 April, at the Barrowlands) with The Twilight Sad in tow. Despite a long decline into radio-friendly, string-assisted cod-epics, and even – on last album, Rewind The Film – using the ploy of bringing in a brace of guest vocalists to liven things up, there is still a molten core of political disaffection and good old-fashioned rock and roll rebellion at the Welsh band's heart. Rumours that they will soon tour their blistering, essential classic The Holy Bible in its entirety bode well – it's a British post-punk classic, and still the most excoriating, brutal album from the Britpop era.

On 5 April, Glasgow's revitalised Art School plays host to Holy Mountain, with the the doom-faced sludge-merchants playing tracks from their new LP Ancient Astronauts. Support comes from Planet Mu-signed electronic visionary and animator Konx-Om-Pax, who has been promising less ambient, more beat-driven sets of late, and experimental singer-songwriter Eugene Tombs. The same night, Olive Grove Records indie-folk combo Randolph's Leap will be launching their new LP, Clumsy Knot, at Glasgow's Kinning Park Complex.

On 9 April, Pronto Mama have an EP launch at Sneaky Pete's in Edinburgh. The Glasgow-based "polyrhythmic indie-rockers" have been seen in impressive support slots with good pals Hector Bizerk among others, and with a healthy dose of funk, jazz and pin-sharp musicianship in their live show, they're a sure bet for a great night out.

King Ayisoba, one of Ghana's most respected and popular musicians, revolutionised the traditional percussive sounds of Ghanaian traditional music with up-to-date studio techniques, sequencing electronic beats and bleeps alongside the infectious, more organic percussion of his homeland. He plays a rare UK show on 10 Apr at Platform in Glasgow, with support from Zea and Sacred Paws.

San Francisco-founded, Oakland-based psych-rockers Lumerians released The High Frontier last year – with a deeply immersive sound combining the motorik rhythms of Can and NEU! with densely psychedelic walls of guitar noise, synth and organ sounds, they are a band that demand to be seen in a live setting. They play Glasgow's Nice 'N' Sleazy on 11 April. Across town at the 13th Note on the same night, cat-loving garage-rock / mutant surf combo Deathcats head up a strong bill, with support from Casual Sex and Shady Lane Studio. They're also at Broadcast the following night – 12 April – with Future Glue, Twin Mirrors and Secret Motorbikes, to launch DIY OR DIE VOL. 1, a compilation of similarly-minded surf, garage and punk artists. In Edinburgh on 11 April, you can catch up with Idlewild front-man Roddy Woomble, doing his solo thing at The Pleasance.

On 12 April, Australian electro/house/indie mob Cut Copy are in town at the O2 ABC, playing tracks from latest album Free Your Mind. They specialise in euphoric choruses, and polished beats and breaks, so wear your dancing shoes for this one. On the same night, rising local indie stars Call To Mind – whose new track premiered on our YouTube channel last month – play The Glad Cafe, with support from beardy folksters Campfires in Winter, and Prehistoric Friends.

Like Lumerians, The Cosmic Dead are deeply entrenched in the feel and history of psych-rock (they don't call themselves "Scotland's foremost Hawkwind tribute band" for nothing), but their brand of psychedleic guitar exploration is of a darker hue. Their recent Easterfaust EP showcased the band in full flow, jamming on two consecutive 20-minute tracks. Don't miss the chance to catch their intense, mind-manifesting live show at Bloc in Glasgow on 17 April.

On 20 April, there's the first of two big one-day showcase events, or mini-festivals, taking place in April – head down to Edinburgh's Electric Circus for the third annual Big Day In, featuring a swath of up-and-coming Scottish electronic and indie-rock bands, including masked techno nutters Roman Nose, neo-trip-hop outfit Indian Red Lopez, plus Carbs, Birdhead, and Manchester duo Gymnast. Later in the month, on 26 April at Glasgow's Art School, there's an all-dayer with a decidedly experimental bent – head down to We Worship The Sun to catch sets from Silk Cut / Dam Mantle collab General Ludd, noise/hardcore mob Black Cop, extreme free jazz / noise / "ultimate improv" project Urine Gagarin and others.

On 24 April, catch former Uncle John & Whitelock front-man Jake Lovatt with his band Jacob Yates and the Pearly Gate Lock Pickers, who take over Glasgow's Stereo with some cracking bands in support, including the VHS Tangerine Dreams of retro-futurist synth-and-drums duo Ubre Blanca, and hectic punk/noise party-starters Halfrican. 

BUY TICKETS NOW: STAG & DAGGER 2014, VARIOUS VENUES, 4 MAY
Glasgow's in-the-city showcase Stag & Dagger presents an opportunity for local bands to play alongside some big names from the international scene, but it's also a celebration of some of Glasgow's more intimate venue spaces, with gigs happening in basements, bars and bunkers across the city. It can feel like an endurance test – with less than ten minutes between shows in some cases, and a shopping list of bands to bag in between gulping down pints and running from the West End to the town centre and back again. But it's more than worth it – especially with a bill as exciting as this year's, with The Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr., fellow NYC alt.rockers The Hold Steady, and psychedelic disco purveyors Jagwar Ma coming to town.

A strong lineup of acts from around Britain is nicely balanced between indie rock – Los Campesinos!, Royal Blood and Tennis are all in attendance – and electronic sounds, with magisterial folk/techno multi-instrumentalist East India Youth and Tri-Angle beatsmith Forest Swords also on the bill. Other highlights include the dreamy, luscious dream-pop of Lanterns on the Lake, enigmatic London newcomers Jungle, hotly-tipped Dundee indie mob Model Aeroplanes, perennial Skinny favourites Honeyblood, and more still to be announced. The gigs happen at various venues throughout Glasgow on 4 May – check our listings for details, and get in early to make sure you can grab a ticket.